Gifts
Ron sighed. Christmas holidays had started a few days ago and Harry�d been released from the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had admitted that she�d wanted to keep him there longer, but Fudge had insisted she release him.
Ron silently cursed Fudge. That idiot had no idea of what was going on. True, at any other time Ron would�ve been happy that Harry got out early, but in this case he agreed with Madam Pomfrey. Harry was better off in the hospital wing, where people could keep an eye on him. There was no telling what he�d try next.
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�We got what you asked for.�
�Thanks,� Harry said, talking the package from Sheila and peeking inside. Yes, this was exactly what he�d asked for. He stood up and headed for the door, just catching Sheila and Melissa�s last words.
�What do you think he wanted that for?� Sheila asked her sister.
�I think the question isn�t �what?� It�s �who?� And I think we already know the answer to that,� Melissa replied. Harry could feel their eyes following him as he left the room. He then headed straight for the Owlery.
�Hedwig!� Harry called, carefully walking around a small pile of animal bones. There was a loud hoot from behind him. He ducked just in time as Hedwig flew over the place where his head had been.
�Hedwig, it�s me!� Harry yelled after her as she flew up into the top rafters of the tower. Then, Harry got an idea.
�Fine,� he shouted, �I guess I�ll have to send this with Pig.�
It worked. She flew down and landed on a perch that Harry could reach. He took the package out of his pocket and tied it to Hedwig�s leg.
�Just make sure she gets it tomorrow morning and that she doesn�t see you.�
Hedwig gave on last piercing screech before flying off into the night. Harry knew why she was mad at him. He hadn�t sent or received any letters lately.
Harry sighed as he stared after Hedwig. Hermione�d get a package tomorrow, never knowing who it was really from. Never knowing how much courage it took to send. Never knowing how much he truly cared about her.
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Hermione peeked around the corner and watched the boy walk away. She hadn�t gotten a good look at his face, but years of watching him told her exactly who it was. What was Harry doing up here so late? Hermione shook her head. It didn�t matter. He was gone now.
�April!� she called, searching the tower. A soft hoot from behind her answered. April was one of the school owls, a tawny owl that Hermione often used to send letters. A loud meow made Hermione whip around. Her cat, Crookshanks, was playing with a feather he�d found on the floor.
�Crookshanks, you know you�re not supposed to be up here!� she scolded, scooping him up into her arms.
April hooted impatiently and held out her leg for Hermione to tie the package on. Hermione smiled slightly and somehow managed to tie the package with one hand, clutching Crookshanks with the other.
�Make sure he gets it tomorrow morning,� Hermione said. April hooted and flew out the window. Hermione watched her for a moment before heading back to Gryffindor Tower.
When she got there she saw a boy sleeping in an armchair in front of the fireplace. It was Harry. He looked so innocent when he slept. It was hard to imagine all the things he�d gone through.
Hermione shivered slightly, pulling her cloak tightly around her shoulders. The fire was dying down. She couldn�t leave Harry here like this. He�d freeze.
Hermione looked around the room and found a blanket with the Gryffindor shield on it. She took it back to Harry and covered him up, careful not to wake him up.
Kneeling by the chair, Hermione pressed a hand to Harry�s forehead and put the other hand on her own head. He was a little warm but not enough to worry about. Up close, Hermione could see how thin Harry had really gotten. He looked like a skeleton. Hermione gently turned over his arm, revealing the scar on his wrist.
�What have you done to yourself?� Hermione whispered, looking at his face then quickly looking away. She couldn�t bear to see his face this way, with the skin so pale and the dark circles under his eyes.
This wasn�t the Harry she�d known before. He wouldn�t be doing this. He wouldn�t have gone that far. He wouldn�t be pushing his friends away.
Hermione had been watching Harry. She�d seen how he ignored Ron and the Wilson twins. He hardly spoke to anyone anymore.
Hermione forced herself to look at Harry again. She knew the real Harry was in there somewhere. She wished there was a way to bring him back. She didn�t care if he never knew how she felt about him as long as he came back.
She stood up and walked up to the girls� dormitories. Normally she would�ve been excited about the next day, but right now, all she could think about was Harry. He was what she thought of as she fell asleep, slipping into a dream that was all too familiar.
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�Harry, no!�
Harry woke up drenched in sweat, the voice still voice still ringing in his ears. He covered his eyes with hands, blocking out all light. He was torn between hating the dream and wanting to go back to see him parents again, even though he knew it wasn�t really them.
Something hit Harry in the side of the head. It was a pillow. He picked it up and chucked it back in the direction it�d come from.
�Ow! Well Happy Christmas to you too!� Ron said sarcastically, dumping an armful of presents in a pile next to Harry�s chair. �I got a letter from Dad this morning. He and Mum found out about what happened. Mum�s sick again.�
Harry felt a pang of guilt. He�d promised Mrs. Weasley he�d be careful. Now she was ill again because of him.
�That�s why there�s no present from her,� Ron continued, �though it looks like Percy sent something. Word of advice: if he cooked it, don�t eat it.�
It turned out that Percy hadn�t made anything, but had send a box of different colored inks and quills. Ron opened a similar present and set it to the side. Harry opened a box of Pepper Imps from Ron, a box of trick wands from Fred and George, and a box of Filibuster�s Fireworks from Melissa and Sheila.
Harry picked up a small package. He pulled out the not attached and read:
How could this have happened? You�ve corrupted our son! You�ve corrupted our son! You will not be coming back here! As long as he�s going to be going to that�school, we will make sure he keeps up his appearance. You will not taint his reputation.
Vernon and Petunia Dursley
P.S. Here�s your Christmas present. Get good use out of it.
Harry handed the note to Ron and opened the package. He pulled out a small vial, read the label, and scoffed.
�Most thoughtful gift they�ve ever sent me,� Harry muttered.
�What is it?� Ron asked, looking fearfully at the vial.
Harry set the bottle down and walked away without another word.
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Ron watched Harry walk away. Then he picked up the vial and read the label.
Cantharis
The last thing they�ll ever taste.
�Poison,� Ron whispered, throwing the vial into the fire. The flames darkened to a blood red before going out in a puff of smoke.
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Harry went to the dormitory and lay down on his bed. He immediately sat back up and picked up a package that was on his pillow. He opened it to reveal a box of Berty Bott�s Every Flavor Beans.
There was no note.
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Hermione sighed and covered her eyes. Of all the dreams she could have about Harry, she had to have this one.
A flutter of wings made her look up. She started toward the window, but Crookshanks jumped into her arms, nearly knocking her over.
�Happy Christmas to you too,� Hermione said, scratching Crookshanks�s ears as she continued her walk to the window. There was nothing there.
Hermione sighed, turned around, and almost stepped on a package lying of the floor. She picked it up and opened it. There was no note, just a box of Sugar Quills.
Hermione looked around to see if she�d maybe dropped the note. She saw something white on the floor and bent to pick it up. However, Crookshanks got there first and picked up in his mouth.
�Silly cat,� Hermione said, straightening up. She set the Sugars Quills on a table and went down to the common room.
She never saw Crookshanks go under a bed and drop a white owl feather from his mouth.
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Author's Note: Hi, there were a lot of questions about this chapter when it first came out, so I'd like to save people the trouble of yelling at me. Hedwig is not dead. Crookshanks did not kill her. If you don't understand, send me an e-mail and I'd be happy to explain.
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